Combined table and chair



May 14, 1946. A. E. PULS ET AL I COMBINED TABLE AND CHAIR Filed April 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet ifmwirs WW flT'TOENd: rs

May 14, 1946. A. E. PULS ET AL 2,400,134

COMBINED TABLE AND CHAIR I Filed April 19, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 14, 1946 COMINED TABLE AND CHAIR Alfred E. Puls,'0leveland, Ohio, and Edward B.

Swenson, Metropolis, Ill., assignors to Metrop-' oils Bending Company, Metropolis, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 19, 1943, Serial No. 483,588

This invention relates to a combination foldable chair and table and has for its general object to provide a construction for such an article of furniture as will enable the same to be produced with the employment of a minimum proportion of metallic parts but which will, nevertheless, be eillcient in operation while relatively inexpensive of production. As shown and described herein, the combined chair and table is designed for use with particular reference to its, adaptability for use by infants, although certain features of construction are capable of a more general application.

More limited objects of the invention will be set forth in the descriptive part of the specification and will be realized in and through the combinations of elements set forth in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings forming part hereof, Fig. 1

represents a, perspective view of a combined foldable chair and table constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 an inverted plan view of a portion of the top of the combined chair and table, showing one of the side rails of the apron and portions of the other rails adjacent thereto, one of the legs being shown in section and the other in folded position beneath the table top; Fig. 4 a detail in perspective showing the manner in which the fabric portion of the seat is constructed; Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig.

3, but showing a reversal of the means depicted in th former view for holding the table leg in extended position; and Fig. 6 a detail showing the manner of pivotally supporting a table leg.

Describing the parts by reference characters, l0, l0, Ill and Hi denote the side rails comprising th upper frame or apron of the table, within which there is inserted a table top I l, which may be made of a sheet of suitable material, such as plywood, or molded material, such as masonite. The table is provided with four legs I2, each of which is preferably rectangular in section and is pivotally supported at one of the corners of the upper frame in the following manner:

An angle bracket has one of its legs I3 secured to one of the rails, such as l0, adjacent to the corner formed between the same and an adjacent rail, such as Ill", and its other leg I3 (which forms a slightly acute angle with the leg I3) is pivotally connected to the upper end of a table leg I2 by means of a bolt it having one end provided with a head l4 engaging the bracket leg ll, said bolt extending through the table leg and having its opposite end anchored in the adjacent rail (as l0") It will be noted that the bolt I does not extend through the leg H at right angles to the axis of the rail ill but is slightly inclined with respect thereto, as shown in Fig. 6. It follows that, the leg. when folded. will occupy the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 5; that is to say, with its lower end spaced from the rail into which the pivot bolt It extends. This manner of mounting the legs enables them to cooperate with the means shown herein for holding them in extended position. This means, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises a brace l5, which may be made of plywood or other wood having a straight grain, the said brace being pivotally connected at one end to the inner surface of the rail Ill into which the bolt I4 extends, the pivot being indicated at it. The opposite or swinging end of the brace is provided with a locking stud or projection which, when the table leg is extended, as shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to enter an. aperture I 8 provided in the leg for the reception thereof, it being noted that, when the leg is extended as shown in Fig. 1, its axis will be at right angles to the table top, but with the surfaces adjacent to the rails "l and it) forming a slight angle with respect to said surfaces. This manner of mounting the legs enables the brace to be folded down inside of the rails comprising the apron and, at the same time, provides clearance between the lower ends of the legs and the locking studs or projections I! on the braces.

The.infants chair proper is made principally of canvas or similar fabric and, as shown herein,

comprises two strips of such fabric, one of which, designated generally at A, comprises a back section IS, a seat section 20, and a leg-supporting section 2|. The section I9 is provided with a loop l9 at its upper end, which loop is adapted to be projected in'collapsed condition through a slot 22* provided in the top of the rear one of the frame members 22 which are secured to the said top below and closely adjacent to a rectangular opening'C therein. When so projected, an anchoring rod 23 of greater diameter than the width of the said slot is inserted into the said loop.

The section 2| of the strip A is provided at its lower end with an upper and a lower row of tabs, indicated at 24, 24, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The other and supporting fabric strip is indicated generally at B, and comprises side sections 25 and 26 anda seat section 21 which is of the strip A and to be secured thereto in such manner as to provide a pocket for the reception of a stiffening board 21*. The upper ends of the sections 25 and 26 are provided respectively with loops 25 and 26 which are adapted to be passed in collapsed condition through slots 2'4! and 22 provided between the tops of the side frame members 22 and the table top and, after having been so passed, to receive therewithin rods 28 and 29 respectively.

A fabric strap 30 has its lower end secured to and beneath the seat section 21 of the strip B and extends upwardly from the front of both seat sections and is provided with a loop 30 at its upper end which is adapted to be passed in collapsed condition through a slot 22 formed between the upper portion of the front frame member 22 and the portion of the table top thereabove and, after having been so passed, to receive an anchoring rod 3| of greater diameter than the width of the slot. Sufficient space is provided between each side section 25 and 26 and the sides of the strap 30 respectively adjacent thereto to accommodate the leg of an infant occupying the chair.

33 denotes footrest hangers which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to opposite sides of the front member 22 of the frame which is located below and which surrounds the opening C, the pivotal connection of one of said hangers being indicated at 34 (Fig. 1). These hangers are connected at their lower ends by a cross bar 35 and are provided each with a vertical series of openings 36 for the reception of studs 31, each of which supports a bracket 38, These brackets are preferably made of sheet metal and are provided each with a flange 39 at its bottom (see Fig. 2), the flanges being directed toward each other and being connected to and serving to support a footrest 40, the sides of the rear edge whereof are adapted to engage the rear faces of the hangers when the footrest is in its extended position. The footrest is preferably made of wood and is provided with a slot 4| adjacent to the rear end thereof, said slot being adapted to receive the lower end of the leg-supporting section 2| of the strip A. As will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 4, the lower end of section 2| is rove through this slot and is passed in front of and beneath the brace rod 35 and is secured thereto by knotting the tapes 24 and 24*.

In practice, we provide a rigid backrest 43 the lower end of which is adapted to be inserted between the bottom of the back section [9 and a strap l9 extending across the front of the said section at the lower end thereof and secured to the said section as by being stitched thereto; and we also provide the chair with a combined back and seat cushion. The strap holds the bottom of the back rest again'st slipping. forwardly and thereby furnishing an uncomfortable angle of repose for the back of the infant as 'well as reducing the utilizable area of the seat proper.

The chair construction shown and described herein is not only conducive to the comfort of the occupant of the same, but contains a feature of safety in that, due to the manner in which the lower portion of the leg-supporting section 2| is connected to the footrest 40, an infant occupying the chair may not have his feet caught by the back of the footrest. Furthermore, the footrest may be adjusted to accommodate varying sizes of infants by merely removing the studs 31 and positioning the footrest upwardly or adapted to extend beneath the seat section 20 downwardly with reference to the hangers 33 and thereafter inserting the studs into the openings in the brackets and the appropriate openings in the hangers; and this adjustment can be accomplished while the lower end of the section 2| is secured to the cross bar 35. The hangers 33 are held in their operative positions by means of light metallic brace rods 42, each having its upper end bent inwardly, as shown at 42 (Fig. 1) whereby they may be removably inserted into apertures in opposed members 22 of the frame surrounding the opening C and each also having its lower end bent inwardly, as shown at 42*, whereby it may also be removably connected in the same way to the appropriate hanger 33. The footrest can be folded upwardly against the hangers and, b disconnecting one or both ends of each of the brace rods-the entire seat, including the hangers 33 and the footrest, may be folded up within the confines of the apron. This, together with the ability of the legs to be folded upwardly within the confines of the apron, makes it possible to ship the combined chair and table in a small, compact package. 43 denotes a strap which is secured, as by stitching, to the underside of the seat section 21 and to the outer sides of the sections B and the upper ends of which are provided with loops 44. These loops are projected inwardly through the slots 22'' and 22 at the time when the loops 25 and 26 are passed in collapsed condition outwardly through said slots. The loops 44, being thus projected inwardly through the slots 22 and 22, provide means for attaching thereto a safety strap which serves to prevent an infant from falling forwardly from the seat.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 3 which differs from the latter construction in that the brace l5 which serves to hold the leg l2 in its extended position is pivotally connected to the leg as shown at l6, and the rail with which the said brace cooperates is provided with an aperture i8 adapted to receive the locking stud or projection IT on the brace.

From the foregoing description it Will be evident that we have produced an article of furniture of the character described which is not only admirably adapted for the purpose for which it was designed but which accomplishes the said object in a particularly inexpensive and efficient manner and with the employment of a minimum weight of metal.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A table having a top provided with an opening therein and supporting members secured to and beneath the top adjacent to the rear and sides of said opening, a chair comprisin a supporting strip having its upper ends secured to the opposed side supporting members and having a depressed seating section between said ends, and a second strip comprising a back section having one end secured to the supporting member at the rear of the said opening and provided with a depressed seating section extending across the seating section of the former strip and having a leg supporting section, laterally spaced hangers extending downwardly from said top adjacent to said opening, a footrest having the sides thereof pivotally connected with said hangers and being provided with a slot extending lengthwise of and adjacent to the rear thereof for the reception of the lower end of the leg supporting section of the second strip, a cross bar connected to the lower ends of said hangers, and means for securing the lower end of the leg-supporting section of the second strip to said cross bar with the portion of said section which is abov its lower end extending through said slot.

2. A table having an apron comprising opposed side rails and also having a top provided with an opening therein and a rear supporting member and opposed side supporting members secured to the underside of the top adjacent to said opening, and a chair comprising strips, one of said strips having a depressed central seatforming section and upwardly extending sections detachably connected with the opposed side supporting members and a second strip havingan upwardly and rearwardly inclined back section connected to the rear supporting member and provided with a seating section extending across the seat-forming section of the first strip and also provided with a downwardly and forwardly extending leg supporting section, hangers and means pivotally supporting the same at their upper ends beneath the table top adjacent to the front of the opening therein, braces detachably connecting the said hangers to the corresponding side supporting members for retaining the hangers in a substantially vertical position, a footrest having its opposite ends pivotally connected with the said hangers and provided with a slot extending longitudinally thereof between said sides, a brace bar connecting the said hangers below the said footrest, the lower end of the leg suporting section of the second strip being inserted through the said slot and secured to the said brace bar, and means for securing the footrest in various positions to which it may be adjusted along the said hangers.

3. A table having a top provided withan opening therein and supporting members secured to the underside of the top adjacent to the rear and sides of said opening, a chair comprising a fabric seating section and fabric supporting members connected to the rear and sides of the seating section and extending upwardly from the seating section and connected at their upper ends to the rear and side supporting members respectively, laterally spaced hangers supported at their upper ends by the table top adjacent to the front of said opening and extending downwardly from their respective supports, a footrest and means pivotally connecting the sides thereof with said hangers, the said footrest being provided with a slot extending lengthwise of and adjacent to the rear thereof, a cross bar connected to the said hangers, and a fabric leg supporting member connected to and extending downwardly from the front of the seat section with its lower end extending through the said slot and secured to the said cross bar.

4. In the table recited in claim 3, the means pivotally connecting the sides of the footrest with the hangers being vertically adjustabl along said hangers whereby the footrest may be supported at varying distances with respect to the cross bar.

5. A table having a top provided with an opening therein and supporting members secured to the underside of the top adjacent to the rear and sides of said opening, a chair comprising a fabric seating section and fabric supporting members connected to the rear and sides of the seating section and extending upwardly from the seating section and connected at their upper ends to the rear and side supporting members respectively, and a strap secured to and extending across the front of the fabric supporting member which is secured to the rear of the said seating section.

6. A table having a top provided with an opening therein and supporting members secured to the underside of the top adjacent to the rear and sides of said opening, a chair comprising a fabric seating section, a fabric section connected to the rear of the seating section and extending upwardly therefrom and connected at its upper end to 35 the rear supporting member and fabric sid sections connected to opposite sides of the seating section and extending upwardly therefrom and connected at their upper ends to the side supporting members, respectively, and a strap secured to the underside of the seating section and to the outer sides of the sections which are connected to the sides of the seating section, the ends of said strap extending inwardly through slots provided between the side supporting members and the table top and provided there with means whereby a safety device may be secured thereto.

ALFRED E. PULS. EDWARD R. SWEINSON. 

